The Yorkshire Post reports that polling commissioned by the Country Land and Business Association in the UK’s five most rural counties found that 46 per cent of respondents had voted Conservative at the last General Election, however voter intention is now 36 per cent Labour and 38 per cent Conservative, representing a 7.5 per cent swing ahead of this week’s local elections

The poll also found that 66 per cent of people did not believe that the Government was doing enough to create prosperity in rural communities and a total of 80 per cent said that a lack of affordable housing was driving young people out of the countryside, with almost half (42 per cent) agreeing that their community was worse off economically, compared to five years ago.

Mark Tufnell, president of the CLA, said:

“The country can no longer afford to ignore the potential of the rural economy and the prospects of the millions of people who live within it. Rural businesses are ready to expand, creating good jobs and opportunities for people from all walks of life – but a lack of interest from Government is holding them back”.

Reports suggest that if the Government fails to act on the issues facing rural communities, they will pay at the ballot box.

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The Yorkshire Post - Local elections 2022: Rural voters could punish Tories over lack of levelling up policies